MANILA, Philippines – The Sandiganbayan has sentenced a former president of the Iloilo State College of Fisheries (ISCOF) to a maximum of 40 years in jail after he was found guilty of four counts of graft.
In a 37-page Decision, the court’s Fifth Division said Dr. Elpidio Locsin Jr. appointed his sons as student laborers and approved the payment of their salaries even without actual performance of labor services.
Being found guilty of violating Section 3(e) of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Locsin was also slapped with perpetual disqualification from public office and ordered to return the salaries paid to his children.
Records of the case showed that Locsin, who was ISCOF President from 1993 to 2005, took advantage of the school’ Student Labor Program, which was supposed to help students in their financial needs.
Three of his children, identified as Neil Arvin, Gelner Keats and Elpidio III, applied for the program and was accepted. They were then assigned to their father’s office.
Lawyers of the Office of the Ombudsman led by Deputy Special Prosecutor John Turalba accused Locsin of accommodating his children to program even though they failed to meet the qualifications.
Under RA 7323 or the Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) being implemented by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), only students with parents earning below P36,000 annually can avail of the program which seeks to help poor but deserving students to earn money, appreciate labor, and be trained in the process.
The prosecution said Locsin caused the payment of his children’s salaries without them actually rendering labor service to the school. - By Michael Punongbayan
